Government abolished import duty on some medicines

The Government of India has abolished basic custom duty on imported medicines and special food for the treatment of all rare diseases listed under the National Rare Disease Policy 2021. This will provide a lot of relief to those people of the country, whose family members are suffering from serious illnesses and they have to import medicines.
The exemption in import duty will be applicable from April 1. Medicines generally attract a basic customs duty of 10%, while certain categories of life-saving drugs attract a concessional rate of 5% or 0%. While drugs used in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy or Duchenne muscular dystrophy are already exempt. Relief was being demanded from the government on medicines used in the treatment of other rare diseases.
Medicines or special food used in the treatment of these diseases are very expensive. They also have to be imported. The ministry said that it is estimated that the annual cost of treatment for some critical diseases for a child weighing 10 kg can range from Rs 10 lakh to more than Rs 1 crore per year. In this, the treatment lasts for life. The dosage of the drug also increases with age and weight.
To avail of this exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from the Central or State Director of Health Services or District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon. The government has also given an exemption on Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), used in the treatment of cancer.